Deke: This is anybody's game

Last week’s results: Seattle is the #1 seed in the NFC and had a bye while the 6th-seeded Saints beat the 3rd-seeded Eagles 26-24. The winner moves on to the NFC Title Game to take on either San Francisco or Carolina.

Saints Coach Sean Payton on how physical the Seattle defensive backfield plays
“They do a great job. They play a lot of bump and run. They are very confident corners. They have a deep position group, but three of the starters are first team Pro Bowl players. Kam Chancellor is extremely physical. He has size, range, and you see that on tape. They have a scheme and they play it extremely well whether they are in their zone schemes or in their man schemes. Often times one look might appear to be one but it’s the other. (Richard) Sherman has great, they all have great ball skills so they all can catch a ball that is not just right. (Earl) Thomas is the same way. He is 100 miles an hour on the back end. He is very sudden and quick to key in diagnosis and very smart. They are extremely good.”

Saints Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr on how the weather will affect the Saints offense
“Well, obviously we know what the weather conditions are supposed to be. Both sides of the ball are going to have to deal with it. It’s not like something you can really go out and replicate because we can’t make rain, but we’re going to have to deal with those conditions and do what we think is best for us going forward with the game plan.”

Saints Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan on if he has a better understanding on how to defend Seahawks QB Russell Wilson
“I think I better have a better understanding of it. I think he was exceptional. My previous experience against him was the second week he ever started. Obviously he has come a long way from there. I see him as a premier quarterback in this league. We all see it. We have to be excellent and be at the top of our game to slow this guy down and that is not even mentioning the great running back (Marshawn) Lynch that they have and their commitment to running the football.”

Things the Saints must avoid

Don’t start slow! Simply put, if Seattle gets up by two scores early you can turn out the lights and send the Saints back to the Big Easy. We all know what happened the last time the Saints played the Seahawks. I’m tired of talking about it, the Saints players are sick of hearing it. So that was then and this is now. This counts the most. Don’t let Seattle win the game in the first 15 minutes like they did a month and a half ago.

Don’t get TOP-ed! If the Saints win the time of possession battle, they will have a great chance to win this game. Dictating the pace of the game is vital to the Saints. And with the offense being on the field more often than the defense, the Saints enhance their chances of winning two fold.

Turnovers! It’s the number one stat in football for a reason. Sure the Saints became just the 17th team to win a post-season game being -2 in the turnovers. But that was living on the edge. If New Orleans is –2 this week, they will be blown out again!

I did not feel this way a week ago, but I give the Saints a decent chance to pull off the upset here. The conditions in the game will have more impact than any player or coach in the game. With conditions that are going to be happening during the game, it is going to be almost impossible to pass the ball down field with gusty 50 mph winds.

Vegas has the total 46 in this game. I think this will go way under that number. A busted run for a long gain, a short pass with a big run after the catch or a special teams score are the only things I can see as being big scoring plays in the game. Honestly, I did not think that the Saints had much of a chance earlier in the week, but I think the Saints will be in this game. Barring another horrible start, the Saints should be in a four-quarter dog fight with the Seahawks.

I think that this will be anybody’s game in the fourth. If I were betting the line I would most without question take the Saints with the 8½. but I’m hotter on the total in this game. I like the under (46) in the game.

13 - 0, here we go again, No offense and defense wearing down. Team needs to re - evaluate personnel . To bad there isn't a mercy rule to keep us from the pain of being embarrassed once again on a national stage. Bree's is on a down hill slide, look at his performance against good teams.

01/11/2014 4:54PM

Reality

Great goal line stand by D, offense needs to show same effort.

01/11/2014 6:51PM

Reality

You can spin it anyway you want, but you can't say the offense was anything but lack luster. You don't win by playing for one half.